Washing machine



y 1932- v. E. SCHMIEDEKNECHT 1,856,268

WASHING MACHINE Filed July 5, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR. Z @626 707cc; 3)

. 4 BY J ATTORNEYS.

May 3, 1932. v. E SCHMIEDEKNECHT 1,856,258

WASHING MACHINE Filed July 5, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 HHHHIHIIH lhl INVENTOR. rsczmac ,?7/6c25} ATTORNEYS.

y 1932 v. E. SICHMIEDEKNECHT 8 WASHING MACHINE Filed July 5, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 50 lilllllllll Patented May 3, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WASHING MACHINE application filed m 5,

This invention relates to a mechanical movement for converting rotary movement into oscillatory movement.

The principal object of the present invengtion is to provide a novel and efficient device of this character wherein both the speed and amplitude of oscillation of an oscillatory element may be varied at will.

With the above and other objects in view was will be hereinafter apparent, the invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifi- 1a cally claimed.

In the accompanying drawings like characters of reference indicate like parts of the several views, and:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in sec- 20 tion of the invention as applied to a washing machine, the latter being shown in section.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail horizontal section on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a pin hole provided collar used herewith.

Figure 5 is a view of the crank disc with its eccentric arranged for a short throw.

Figure 6 is a section of a modified means for adjusting the crank throw.

Figure 7 is a section through a portion of the wringer arm showing a modified speed changing device with the parts arranged for high speed.

Figure 8 is a view showing certain of the part; disclosed in Figure 7 arranged for low s cc The invention has been here shown as ap plied to a washing machine indicated in general at 10 and provided with an oscillatory shaft 11 hereinafter understood to form the oscillatory element of the invention. Extending laterally from the lower end of the shaft 11 is a hollow housing arm 13 having at its free end a hollow post 14 in which is mounted a vertical shaft 16 which passes up through the post 1 1. On the lower end of this shaft is a worm wheel 17 driven by a worm 18 fixed on the shaft 19 of a motor 20.

1928. Serial No. 290,540.

It will be observed that these parts are in substance identical with those shown in my copending applications and need not be further described.

On the shaft 16, in the form shown in Figures 1 to 8 inclusive, is fixed a gear 21 and a bearing 22 is provided on the arm 13 wherein is mounted a hollow shaft 23 which has on its lower end a gear 2 1 wherewith the gear 21 meshes. 2 1, as by rivets 25 is a shallow cylindrical box like member 26 having its lower side closed by a closure 27, the member and its closure forming a crank wheel. Mounted for rotation in the hollow shaft 23 is an eccentric shaft 28 which has its lower end extending into the hollow crank wheel and on this lower end is eccentrically fixed a disc 29 which thus constitutes the eccentric. The upper end of the shaft 28 has mounted thereon an operating knob 30 which is so fitted on the shaft that it may slide longitudinally thereof but cannot revolve thereon so that rotation of the knob rotates the shaft 28 and thus rotates the eccentric 29. Fixed on the hollow shaft 23 is a collar 31 having an arouate series of pin receiving openings 32 therein adapted to be selectively engaged by a pin 38 fixed on the knob 30.

In the form shown in Figure 3 the knob is provided with a stop finger 34 to engage the collar 31 and limit upward movement of said knob and in the form shown in Figure 8 a spring 35 is mounted in a hollow upward portion 36 of the knob around the shaft 28 below a collar 37 so that the knob can only be lifted against the force of the spring. In this latter form the top of the knob is closed by a screw cap 38 to provide a neat finish.

Around the eccentric extends an eccentric band or strap 89 having a thickened portion in which is mounted one end of a crank pin which projects downwardly below the crank wheel through a radial slot 11. This slot, while permitting the crank pin to move toward and from the center of the wheel under influence of the movement of the eccentric in said wheel, serves to drive the pin as the wheel rotates in a circular path concentric with the axis of the shaft 23. Thus when Fixed to the under side of this gear the pin is in the position shown in Figure 4 the crank throw will be at its maximum but when the eccentric is shifted to the position shown in Figure 5 tne crank throw will be nearly at the minimum. Obviously intermediate positions of the eccentric will effect correspondingvariations of the crank throw.

On the lower end of the shaft 11 is fixed a gear 42 wherewith meshes a rack 43 formed on a connecting rod 44 and held in mesh by a guide 45. In the form of the device just described the connectin rod is journalled on the pin 40. Thus by shifting the eccentric andvarying the crank throw the amplitude of movement of the rack will be correspondingly varied and sequentially the amplitude of oscillation of the agitator will be varied, the agitator oscillating preferably 180 degrees on full crank throw. Also, since the oscillations take place in equal times independently of their amplitude the vectoral speed will vary in like manner.

In the form of the device shown in Figures 7 and 8 the connecting rod 4a is journalled on a crank pin 46 fixed in a crank gear 47 formed on a sleeve l8 mounted on a shaft 49. This sleeve also is provided with a smaller gear 50. On the shaft 16 is splined a sleeve 51 carrying a large gear 52 adapted to mesh with the gear 50 and a small gear 53 adapted to mesh with the gear 47 accordingly as the sleeve 51 is in the position shown in Figure 7 or in the position shown in Figure 8. On the sleeve 51 is a shipper collar 54 engaged. by a shipper yoke 55 slidably mounted on the shaft 16 and held from rotation by the co-v acting guide members 56 and 57, carried respectively by the yoke and wringer post ll. Projecting from the yoke 55 is a pin 58 on which is mounted one end of a link 59 having its other end mounted on a pin 60 projecting from a crank disc 61. This disc is mounted on a shaft 62 provided with an operating handle 63 at the side of thepost 14. Thus the movement of the handle shifts the gearing so that the parts may be moved into high gear, low gear or neutral with corresponding effect on the speed of oscillation of the agitator although, in this form, the amplitude of 0scillation remains constant,

Obviously more than two gears may be employed by the use of the expedients well known in automobile and other gear changing devices but it is notdeemed necessary to illustrate all the variations possible, the present illustration being typical of the employment of a change speed gear in this connection.

Also it will be obvious that suitable means, 7 such as a rheostat, may be employed for varying the speed of osclllatlon of the agitator through variations in the motor speed.

Thus the speed and amplitude of osclllation of the agitator can be varied to suit.

the material being washed.

There has thus been provided a simple and efficient device of the kind described and for the purpose specified.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form and construction of the invention without departing from the material spirit thereof. It is not, therefore, desired to confine the inventionto the exact form herein shown and described, but it is desired to include all such as properly come within the scope claimed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimedas new, is:

1. In a mechanical movement, an oscillatable element and means to oscillate said element including a crank wheel, a driven shaft carrying said crank wheel, an eccentric associated with said wheel and having its axis of rotation concentric with the axis of the shaft, means to support said eccentric for adjustment about its axis independently of the wheel, an eccentric strap surrounding the eccentric, a crank pin on the strap, means carried by the wheel to rotate the strap on the eccentric, and an operative connection between. the pin and oscillatable element.

2. In a mechanical movement, an oscillatable element and means to oscillate said element including a hollow crank wheel in the form of a short cylinder, a hollow driving shaft carrying said hollow crank wheel, a stationary shaft extending through the hollow shaft into said wheel,'an eccentric fixed on saidstationary shaft within the wheel, an eccentric strap in said wheel surrounding the eccentric, a crank pin carried by the strap and projecting laterally from the wheel, said wheel being radially slotted to permit movement of the pin toward and from the center of the wheel, said slot embracing the pin to drive the same as the wheel rotates, an operative connection between the pin and oscillatable element, and means to adjustably rotate the stationary shaftand to hold the same stationary in adjusted position.

3. In a mechanical movement, an oscillatable element and means to oscillate said element including a hollow crank wheel in the form of a short cylinder, a hollow driving shaft carrying said hollow crank wheel, a stationary shaft extending through the hollow shaft into said wheel, an eccentric fixed on said stationary shaft within the wheel, an eccentric strap in said wheel surrounding the eccentric, a crank pin carried by the strap and projecting laterally from the wheel, said wheel being radially slotted to permit movement of the pin toward and from the center of the disc, said slot embracing the pin to drive the same as the wheel rotates, an opera. tive connection between the pin and oscillatable element, a bearing for said hollow shaft, a' collar fixed on said bearing and provided with an arcuate series of pin openings, and an adjusting knob slidably and non-rotatahly mounted on said stationary shaft and carrying a pin positioned for selective engagement in the pin openings of the collar.

t. Means for converting rotary to oscillating motion including a hollow crank wheel in the form of a short cylinder, a hollow driv ing shaft carrying said hollow crank wheel, a stationary shaft extending through the hollow shaft into said wheel, an eccentric fixed on said stationary shaft within the wheel, an eccentric strap in said wheel surrounding the eccentric, a crank pin carried by the strap and projecting laterally from the Wheel, said wheel being radially slotted to permit movement of the pin toward and from the center of the disk, said slot embracing the pin to drive the same as the wheel rotates, a driven shaft having a crank arm thereon, a line connecting said pin and crank arm, and means to rotate the stationary shaft and hold the same stationary in adjusted position.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

VICTOR E. SCHMIEDEKNECHT. 

